Scotland's journey to World Cup is complex but restoration job deserves praise ahead of Czechia playoff clash
Scotland take on Czechia in the Women’s World Cup playoff this Friday.
For Scotland, the next step on their road to recovery under head coach Melissa Andreatta takes them to Pardubice as they aim to go one step closer to the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next summer.
Taking on Czechia in the first round of qualification playoffs this Friday, Scotland head into the clash as narrow favourites to progress to the next stage. There’s confidence swirling around the camp ahead of the two-legged tie, with Andreatta’s injection of positivity proving infectious.
It’s been seven years since Scotland were fully embroiled in the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, a tournament that proved to be the ultimate springboard for the explosion of the game we see today. But as the game continued its major upward trajectory with the hugely successful European Championships in 2022 and 2025 - and the World Cup in 2023- Scotland were absent.
Under former head coach Pedro Martinez Losa, interest in the team hadn’t just stagnated - it had declined. His acceptance of humbling defeats signalled apathy; a lack of direction was evident during the meek World Cup 2023 qualifying playoff defeat to the Republic of Ireland three years ago.
By the time he blamed the cold weather for their Euro 2025 qualifying playoff defeat to Finland, apathy had become entrenched. Attendances proved it. However, exactly 18 months since Andreatta’s appointment as manager, the dream of returning to the world stage doesn’t feel as far out of reach as it once did after losing just two of their last 12 matches.
The clash with Czechia will be no walk in the park. Just eight places below Scotland in the FIFA rankings, Real Sociedad’s Klara Cahynova and Sparta’s Prague’s Michaela Khyrova headline a squad that has caused problems for top European sides in recent years. Scotland’s mood has been boosted by an upturn in results, performances, and Andreatta’s ability to fuse impressive young talents such as Kathleen McGovern, Lauren Davidson and Jenna Clark with world-class midfielders Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert; she has given fans a reason to believe again. And it’s easy to understand why.
Andreatta’s understanding of the climate, culture and the desire of the Scottish Women’s national team has been superior to her predecessor. “I believe in this team and believe in these individuals, and that belief grows," she said earlier this year. "Our culture is resilient. That's what I have learned about being here, and they are reconnecting with that part of their culture. Everyone should be proud of them, and you are going to be prouder - I am sure.”
If they get through round one against Czechia over the next week, they must then navigate a second qualification playoff against the winner of Lithuania and Sweden. Win that? They will then be ranked by UEFA alongside the other eight round two winners based on performance. If they finish in the top seven, they will qualify for the Women’s World Cup. If they finish eighth, they will enter a further playoff known as the FIFA Inter-Confederation playoffs.
The road to the tournament is convoluted, to put it lightly, and Scotland may still fall short, especially if they face European powerhouses Sweden. But does it feel possible for the first time since 2019? Definitely, and that’s where Andreatta and her team have succeeded. Scottish women’s football fans have a reason to believe again.
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